Tools you need
- Rotary cutter, self-healing mat and a long acrylic ruler.
- A ¼-inch (6mm) patchwork foot for accurate seams.
- A walking foot for quilting layers evenly.
- Quilting pins or clips, and basting spray or safety pins.
- 100% cotton thread is the traditional choice.
Machine features that help
- Throat space: more room to the right of the needle makes quilting large pieces easier.
- Needle up/down and knee lifter for pivoting.
- Feed dogs that drop for free-motion quilting.
- A sturdy extension table to support the weight of the quilt.
Fabric and wadding
Quilting cotton is stable and comes in endless prints. Pre-cut bundles (fat quarters, jelly rolls and charm packs) make choosing easy. Wadding (batting) comes in cotton, polyester, wool and blends, each with different warmth, loft and shrinkage.
Your first quilt in six steps
- Choose a simple pattern of squares or strips.
- Cut accurately with a rotary cutter.
- Sew with a consistent ¼-inch seam and press seams as you go.
- Layer the top, wadding and backing, then baste.
- Quilt straight lines with a walking foot.
- Trim and bind the edges.
Servicing a quilting machine
Quilting puts a lot of hours on a machine and fills it with lint. Clean the bobbin area often and service it regularly. In Leicester, PK Sewing Machines services domestic machines and stocks feet, needles and bobbins; it sits in a city famous for textiles and hosiery.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
